Dekita / Discuss

r0m4in says:

I have somes questions to Josef :
-Are you a professional photographer?
-Why have you chosen to become a photographer and when?
-What kind of camera do you use?
-What is motivating you do post your works on flickr?

(Now a question which is totally unrelated:
-What type of music do you like listening to?)

I want to say that your shoots are very impressive and I'm very curious what your're gonna answer...

[------------------------------------]

Now, one or two questions to Rudolf:
You know... I want to visit Japan and I would like you to give me somes places to visit.
-How is the life here?
-What's your job? Or" Just" the designer of Dekita?
-Are the sushis better in Japan or isn't true?


I hope I don't bother you with these questions... Bye!
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

lindia says:

*I would like to know how do you do to take this pictures?
*Do you have your camera with you all the time?
*What inspires you?
*What do you do for living?

I believe that's it!
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

kamiiille says:

Hello, I think that your work is interesting, the fotos of flowers for example are not my favourite but they are great, they are really great taked!!
Where do you live??
Are you a prefessional?? I am really interested by fotos, but not the same kind of yours.The colors of your pictures are very good, I think your work is beautiful.
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

jeremy182 says:

Hi Joseph. I just want to say that your photos are great, all of them are so beautiful. I enjoy seeing your photos in dekita.org a lot
So, first of all, I would like to know:
1 )Where do you find this inspiration that you have ?
2 )What are your favourite photos and why ?
3 )What are the best places for you to take photos ?
4 )Are you a famous photographer?
5 )How and when did you start photographing?
6 )Do you have any stories to tell us related to one of your photos ?
7 )Do you intend to make an exhibition?

1 )Rudolf, making a site , is a lot of work, isn't it ?
2 ) Did you have another sites ?
3 )Have you learn in an informatician school, to make a site ?
4 )Are you well known ?
5 )How old are you ?Because ,the young people are the one who make sites, and old people can't stand internet, and the computers in general...
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

kamiiille says:

Do you take fotos of persons, population too or just landscapes, flowers or these types of things?
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

kamiiille says:

How old were you when you start to take photographs?
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

nightlover says:

Hey!!!

Well I have some questions too, for each one of you.

First,I want to ask Joseph:
- Where are you from?
- Do you travel just to make photographs? And do you know where you are going, where are these flowers and objects, or do you just have always your camera with you and take pictures when you find something interesting?
- Did you ever made some exposition?

I think that's it!!!! Congratulations, it's really a beautiful work!!!!

Rudolph:
- Why are you living in Japan?
- Is it an interesting country to visit?
- Do you have a goal doing this site or is just because you enjoy it?

Thank's for both of you !!!!
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

deco15 says:

Josef, I've seen your work in the site and indeed it is beautiful.
I am wondering how you started taking artistic pictures.
Getting more technical I would like to know what kind of camera you used to take those pictures. What's your position in the analog/digital transition that we are having right now? Do you think photography or other arts can now be diffused by sites of this kind?

Rudolf, congratulations on the site and let me ask you how do you think of internet as a diffusion of art.

Thank you.
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

Berti01 says:

Hello Josef, how are you doing?
I was watching your pictures and noticed that you are a great photographer. But I would like to know where this passion for photography came from.
Besides this, being an Italian, what kind of food do you prefer?
I'm looking forward to hearing from you,
Thanks,


Berti
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

amandats says:

Hello..I like your pictures a lot ..they are absolutely beautiful and they bring to us, a good feeling of peace and beauty!
Well, I have some questions:
- What inspires you when you are photographing? And how do you choose the places and objects, is this natural or you planed exactly what you´re going to take?
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

plissken2013 says:

For me I just would like to know where you find your inspiration. How do you choose the place where you take your pictures?
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

livestrong says:

Hi Joseph! I have a house in Corsiga and it is both near the beach and the country side! So it is the most beautiful place for pictures! I hope that one day you may go there and find out that it is almost like heaven! Otherwise i would like to now where do you find your inspiration to take those pictures and why all thode pictures are just a hobbie for you ?? The pictures are so good that I always thought that you were a professional!! So that's it ! Thanks for those wonderful pictures and keep traveling around the world, I hope that you will find gorgeous places!! Bye
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

irmaodojapinha2005 says:

Many question has already been ask...
so i think i have just one question that i hope it is diferent of all others... Are your fotos taken without any artificial effects?
thanks for answering...
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

livestrong says:

I'm Italian as well! How did you take the picture on the beach with the big sand mountain next to it??
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

naty nahas says:

heyy Rudolf and Joseph!!
You are probably tired of so many questions, but I promise to be short and straightforward.
Firstly,I would like to ask Joseph these folowing questions:
-You are quite a traveler.Do you make research about the country you will visit before going there, or do you just go and find out?
-Have you ever gotten into serious troubles in one of your wonderings?
-What languages do you speak?
-If you are an "amator",how did you learn to take such marvelous pictures?

Now to Rudolf:
-Did you take ITC?
-When did your interest for informatics begin?


thanks a lot you both!!!bye bye-
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

r0m4in says:

If he replie to all these questions.... Good Work ^_^
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

ark says:

Hi, thanks for the questions. Let me try to answer them in turn.

I want to visit Japan and I would like you to give me somes places to visit.

Well, currently there's the World Expo which attracts a lot of overseas visitors. But I find it hard to recommend places to visit; it all depends on your interests.

One day, I'll write a novel about it all -- meanwhile, have some pictures. :-)

I teach English at a university.

There's a sushi bar near the university where I teach -- the chef is very friendly and his sushi are an absolute delight. I can't compare them very well with the sushi in other countries because I don't travel a lot and when I do I usually stick to the local cuisine.

It usually is, yes -- and not just the design and the coding: it involves a lot of work talking to clients or collaborators just trying to figure out what everybody's ideas and expectations are and how you can translate them into a site.

Oh, I've been building stuff on the Web for a couple of years. Some of it didn't last. Some of it is still around. For example, I'm webmaster/designer/illustrator on Creative-writing.ch, a site run by a Swiss teacher/poet/musician. I also created Tawawa.org, a place where my students used to write. The site has been silent for a while but there's a new group weblog on it that might come to life soon, depending on whether the students are interested or not.

There's also Dottweiler.com, a site where I was hoping to play around a bit with graphic design. It's still "coming soon" because Dekita.org has been eating up a lot of my time recently. Here's a highly inofficial sneak preview anyway. Some related design stuff is on a Flickr site, and you can buy the T-shirt! :-)

No. I have no formal training in either design or information technology.

Um, er, no. People who are "well known" usually do one thing very well -- or at least very successfully -- I've been doing too many things and none of them very well or very successfully.

That's a bit of an over-generalisation; I know people who are a lot older than me and know a lot more about computers than I ever will. Then again, I know people who are a lot younger than me who can't tell the difference between a computer and an electric toaster. I'll be 40 soon.

I've got a job here that I love doing.

That's a philosophical question because interest is very much in the eye of the beholder: things aren't "interesting" in themselves -- they're interesting in relation to the person who takes the interest.

Also, Japan may be a difficult country to visit unless you speak Japanese.

I'm an English teacher in a country that is isolated from the world in many ways and where the people aren't spectacularly successful at picking up other languages. I started from the observation that people were having conversations in English on the Internet and from the belief that the Japanese could become better at English if they participated in these conversations, using their English as a means of communication rather than as a pretext for holding examinations. I've been trying to create spaces in which students of English can put their language skills to actual use in communicating with real people. Dekita's "goal", as I see it, is to facilitate student participation in real-life conversations online.

Well, the Internet is flattening the world, it's leveling hierarchies, it's creating horizontal relationships where there used to be vertical relationships. The art world has lots of those vertical structures and hierarchies: you've got the galleries, the museums, the record labels, the publishing houses, etc.: they determine what gets promoted and what doesn't. None of those structures are likely to go away any time soon, but they may lose some of their power as mediators because the Internet can establish relatively direct, "non-mediated" connections between artists and their audiences.

Take an independent record label like Magnatune. They do a pretty good job at distributing and, actually, selling art, and they do it on great terms for the artists themselves.

ITC? I'm not sure what the acronym stands for. I've bought some fonts from the International Typeface Corporation (ITC), which isn't what you wanted to know. None of the other definitions on Google seem to make much sense either. So let me guess: could it stand for Inoformation Technology Certificiate? Is it something you consider doing?

Very late in life. Throughout high school I was pretty bad at math. At that time, I signed up for a voluntary course in basic programming, which, however, didn't do anything for me.

I got involved with the Internet back in the nineties when I was working for a translation agency. Translators live in an incredibly wired-up environment these days.

r0m4in says:

Thanks to replie to my questions.
But can me tell more about Japan if you can, because I would like to visit it one day... and to eat good sushi!!
u.u
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

ma19 says:

Hello Joseph!!!
so, I talk to my mother about you, and she would like to Know what kind of lenses you use??
And why do you like photos?? Is it like a therapy?? or just a hobbie??
Do you have any goal??
Tell me, what do you do for living??
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

GeeGee-Bee says:

What do you feel while taking a picture? Is it the same every time?
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

Mlle Kro says:

Hello Josef and Rudolph!
Josef, I really don't know what to ask you since my colleagues seem to have asked everything. But congratulations anyway!
+ What's your job if not a professional photographer?
+ Would you like to become a pro? If yes, why don't you?

Rudolf!! I think everyones here knows I'm fascinated about Japan... But before Japan I'd like to know...
+ How much about HTML do you know? Do you think you could help me with a technical problem (on my weblog)?
+ Do you have Japanese students that could be interested on talking to me? Could you ask them?
+ Have you ever been to Harajuku? Can you tell me what it is like?
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

Lhu says:

Hey Joseph!
You'll be quite tired answering all these questions above...
I hope not waste too much of your time, and not repeat any question made by my friends...

I'm very keen on cameras and technological stuff, and I've seen that your camera is brilliant! I realized that most of your photographs are everyday scenes, and I was wondering if you have your camera next to you all the time...

How this hobby came to you? Did you felt this strange need to catch peculiar scenes?
And what do you do when you're not taking pictures?
I would love to make photography a means of living... But I'll need talent, perspective and a nice camera! You're up to, you know?
You could be a professional photographer; it will touch so many people...

Anyway, I was also wondering where do you live and what is your everyday like?

Gotta go! Bye!!
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

ark says:

Kro -- I'm in Tokyo every now and then but I'm afraid Harujuku isn't where I spend a lot of time. I hear it isn't as crazy any more as it used to be.

Feel free to contact me privately about your HTML problem. I'll be on the road for the next few days, though, so please don't expect an immediate reply.

About Japanese students you could talk to -- well, Yuki of Kissui.net probably wouldn't mind if you read her weblog and posted a few comments.

As mentioned above, I might have a new group weblog on Tawawa that will be run by members of the English Speaking Society, a student club here at the university. I think there's an orientation event scheduled for Friday next week where I'll explain a couple of things about the setup and where I will be able to gauge the level of interest among the students. If it were for me to decide, I could sign you up as a contributor, but I don't want to take any decisions over the students' heads. Pekochan is in charge of this project and you should talk to her.

R0m4in -- to find out more about Japan, I suggest you read a book or two. You also might find weblogs from Japan a good source of information.
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

josef.stuefer    says:

Ooops, so many questions for me... sorry for the late reply. I have been travelling wonderful Switzerland for some time while you were discussing things here. I'll try and do my best to answer your questions, ... starting from top to bottom:

r0m4in:
- I am not a professional photographer but a true amateur in the literal sense of the word (amare = to love).
- I haven't.
- SONY CYBERSHOT DSC-F707
- My motivation comes from the fact that I like to watch other people's pictures and I like them to see my picture and to comment on them. I like to learn from them, and to see beautiful pictures. I am a very visually oriented person.
- I like to listen to classical music (different styles and composers), ethnic music and jazz.

== thanks for your compliments and questions ==

lindia:
* I hardly ever go out for the sake of taking photographs, so most of my pictures are taken by coincidence so to speak :) I may also take pictures at home, in my living room, in my garden, ..., just anywhere. I don't use any sophisticated equipment or studio.
* I take my camera with me when I know that I have some time to take pictures or if I expect to see some interesting objects. I don't have it with me at all times.
* I am inspired by the objects I take photographs of. Many times it is very trivial everyday's objects which hold secrets once we look at them more carefully or from an unconventional angle.
* I am a plant scientist, and I work at the Radboud University Nijmegen (Netherlands).
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

josef.stuefer    says:

kamiiille:
- I live in Nijmegen, which is a town in The Netherlands. I am a citizen of Italy, and my first language is German.
- I am an amateur photographer.
- I hardly ever take photographs of people, except for snapshots of friends or kids.
- I think I was about 21 when I started to take pictures.

& ... may I ask you about your favorite pictures and styles?

================

jeremy182:
1) My inspiration comes from the objects I photograph (see above). I only take pictures of places or objects that attract my visual attention.
2) My favorite photos are pictures that show unexpected or neglected aspects of an object, situation, or place.
3)Any place can be the best! Watch carefully and you will find the best shot ever. That's probably why my picture locations vary between kitchen table to glacier.
4) Not at all, LOL !!! In fact I am not a photographer (see above).
5) I started at the age 21 or so, when I took pictures of plants during my university study of plant biology.
6) My most-viewed and most-favorited flickr picture is an example for what I said before: watch carefully and u'll find. I took this picture in my living room after the kids had played with their colorful plastic easter eggs. Since there wasn't enough light to take a sharp image I realized that the color blur can actually be very nice and interesting. I tried again and took this picture.
7) my exhibition is on flickr :) ... I don't think that I will have an opportunity to have a real exhibition.
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

josef.stuefer    says:

nightlover:
- I come from the northern-most privince of Italy, and this is my home village. All pictures in my flickr stream tagged sarntal show places close to my point of origin :)
- I have never travelled for photography (unfortunately), but I take my camera with me when I travel for work. As I said before (see above) most of my pictures are taken by coincidence.
- I have never done a real exhibition.

===========

deco15:
- I started taking artistic photographs when I realized that many everyday's objects have a very artistic, but often hidden, aspect to them. I think I am quite playful and very curious which facilitates artistic photography. In fact I do not really think that my pictures are artistic, they are arty.
- I use a SONY CYBERSHOT DSC-F707.
- I am not bothered by the analog-digital discussion, I use what is most convenient and appropriate for me (= digital). I do indeed think that websites like flickr can contribute a lot to the diffusion of visual arts, and they facilitae the communication between photographers (and other artists I guess).

===============

Berti01:
- I love simple and natural food, fresh and tasty. My all-favorite food styles are Japanese and Italian (they are somehow related I think). I have no single-favorite type of food or dish, as I like diversity.
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

josef.stuefer    says:

amandats:
- please read my previous posts for inspiration and motivation.
- I never plan what pictures I will take, I just wait for the right time and place, ... and then I shoot :)

====================

plissken2013:
- please see notes above
- I can take pictures anywhere. There is no place which would not offer an interesting frame for a good picture. Try yourself and you'll see!

===================

plissken2013:
- see above
- You are right, taking pictures is a hobby of mine, not more. I like my real job and so there is no need to switch to photography.

&... will come along if I come to Corsica :) I have been there as a botanical and mountain tour guide a long time ago... beautiful place!

====================

irmaodojapinha2005:
- the answer to your question depends on the definition of artificial effect. I don't use any studio or advanced equipment, and I don't change the pictures after I take them except for adjustments in contrast and brightness. However, I do use the functions buiilt into my camera, such as negative image, solarization, or infra-red imaging. Lately, I have also been experimenting with certain filters which I bought for my work (e.g. UV-pass, I wonna know if plants reflect UV light that can be seen by insects and birds). Basically, I have no problem with artificial effects, what counts (for me) is the result and the impression it makes, the emotions it evokes... I am not a purist, but rather an eclecticist... :)
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

ark says:

Hey Josef -- good to see you're back! Looks like you did some hiking in the Alps.

It somehow hadn't occurred to me that your colour experiments could be camera settings rather than Photoshop manipulations -- interesting.
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

ark says:

Another thing, completely unrelated: I don't think I've ever met an Italian native speaker of German. What does your dialect sound like? Is it much different from the Graubuenden dialect spoken across the Swiss border?

Also, you've just returned from the Wallis -- did you understand the people there? The Wallis people are a breed apart from the rest of Switzerland, and the broader varieties of their dialect can be barely intelligible. I wonder what they sounded like to you?
Posted 55 months ago. ( permalink )

livestrong says:

Thanks to replie to my questions!
But can you tel me more about your inspirations! Thanks again.
alex
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

josef.stuefer    says:

Hi Rudolf,

I am just back from another travel to that region, first to Vienna for a scientific conference (on plants of course ;) ... and later to my home village in the central alps of Italy.

You were wondering if our dialect sounds similar to Swiss dialects across the border? Well, in fact I don't know for sure, as I don't know many Swiss people.

However, my guess is no, the dialects may be (or at least may sound) quite different. I think so as I am not usually able to understand strong Swiss dialects (I may understand some 50-70% but not more).

For the lack of experience I cannot really differentiate between Swiss dialects. They all sound pretty similar to me (I know they ARE NOT SIMILAR), and they all sound immensly Swiss!!! Half a word is enough to identify a Swiss, ... but understanding is a other matter altogether...

Our dialects are similar to bavarian dialects but stronger (more words that do not exist in official German). Interestingly, my dialect enables me to understand a fair amount of Yiddish, the language of the Central and Easstern European Jews, even though I am not Jewish and have no connection to Yiddish speaking communities.
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

josef.stuefer    says:

Alex, ... I find it quite difficult to explain where my inspriration to take pictures comes from. That's why I have answered those questions only very briefly.

It sure is only a hobby of mine if you define a hobby as something that we do purely out of personal interest without any good reason or intention to make money or become famous or so (the best definition of a hobby I ever heard is actually the following: "a hobby is any activity that takes a lot of time and is useless" :)

I think I am a very visually oriented person, meaing that what I see is important to me, and that visual things can get a lot of attention from me. That's probably why I "see" the things I take pictures of. I like to take slightly unusual looks and angles just to see more than usual.

The reason to show my pictures on flickr is just to get other people's views and opinions on my pictures and to learn from their advice and see lots of good photographs. I really love flickr a lot!
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

livestrong says:

Thank you very much for this answer!
See you later
alex
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )